7504.00.00 - Nickel powders and flakes

This HTS category, 7504.00.00, specifically covers nickel in the form of powders and flakes. These are forms of base metal nickel that have undergone processing to reduce their size and/or shape, distinguishing them from solid nickel unwrought or in other physical states. The classification is situated within Section XV, which deals with base metals and their articles, and more specifically Chapter 75, which is dedicated to nickel and its associated products.

Within the broader HTS system, this category stands apart from other live animal or agricultural product headings (e.g., 0101-0105) by its focus on manufactured or processed base metals. Its siblings in the immediate context are vastly different product types, highlighting the hierarchical structure of the HTS where each chapter and heading addresses a distinct commodity group. The core classification criterion here is the material (nickel) and its specific physical form (powder or flake).

This heading is further subdivided to differentiate between the primary forms: 7504.00.00.10 for nickel powders and 7504.00.00.50 for nickel flakes. These subcategories are crucial for capturing variations in particle size, distribution, and manufacturing processes, which can have implications for their intended use in industries such as metallurgy, chemical production, or additive manufacturing.